The freeway generally carries three lanes for travel in each direction and carries traffic for both U. S. Highway 31 and U. S. Highway 280. Between its northern terminus and University Boulevard, the freeway is elevated. From University Boulevard to its southern terminus the freeway is by and large at-grade.

When the expressway was originally constructed, a cloverleaf exit was constructed at 1st Avenue North for southbound traffic. An on-ramp was constructed over the cloverleaf and used in the 1970s, but later removed. Currently, although the cloverleaf exit exists, it is closed to traffic.